Door-latch.



J. 1. MALONE.

DOOR LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED Anas, I9I5.

Patented Apr. 29, 191%.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

1.1. MALONE.

DOOR LATCH.

APPucATloN FILED AUG.6. |915.

11,392,053, Patented Apr. 29, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

uur rentrant caricia.

DOOR-LATCH.

incanta.

Application med August 6, 1915. Serial No. 44,012.

T all whom t may concern.'

I e it known that I, JOHN 'J'. MLALoNn, a citizen of the United States, residin in the city and county of New Haven an State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door-Latches, of which the following is a full', clear, and. exact description. l

This invention relates *to door latches, and has special reference to latches for vehicle doors. T shall describe my improvements as applied to an automobile door latch, but it will be understood that certain features can be used rt0 advantage in latches of various other types.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a latch which when released not only unfasten-s the door, but

swings it open to a certain extent. Thus, in

the case of an automobile door, it is aimed to provide a construction whereby, on manipulating a suitable controlling1 member, the door will automatically swingfrom a closed position to an open position, without the necessity of pushing` or pulling the same.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a simple, inexpensive, reliable and :dura'ble latch which can be very readily fastened and released. l

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the novel'features and combinations oi"4 parts to be hereinafter described and claimed. L

In lthe accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 `is a fragmentary outside elevation of an automobile body having a door equipped with my improved latch;

Fig. 2 is an elevation, taken from` the inside of the car, with the covering rjemoved from the door to show the main parts of 'the latch Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, showing the door closed;

Fig. 4 is a similar view, showing the door in the open position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevation of the latch, as viewed from rthe outside of the car, withthe parts in the'positions which they assume when the door is closed;

F ig. 6 is a further enlarged view of certain parts of the latch, showing the positions assumed when the door is open; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged transverse section on line 7 7 of Fig. l.

in the drawings, l have shown my new Specification of Letters Patent.

`bar 13, a carrier member 14,

Patented Apr. 29, 1919.

latch applied to a door on an automobile having a touring body. This door, de-

noted by reference character l0, may comprise the usual stile 11 having a metal sheathing on the outside and a linishing layer of leather or other upholstery applied to the inside. The hinges of the door are shown at 12, and these permit the door to swing outward as usual. Extending horli* zontally across the door is a bolt, which, in the fo-rmshown, comprises a bolt shank .orand a latch bolt or head 15. These parts are carriedby a supporting plate 16 mortised in the upright frame member at the free edge of the door, and having a face plate 17 atsaid free edge of the door, through which the latch bolt t is adapted to project. This latch bolt is adapted to take into a strike 18 of suitable form on the frame of the car body, as shown at Figs. 3 and 4. At the rear end of theplate 16, z'. e., at that end which is disposed away from rthe free edge of the door, the same is provided with an inturned flange 19, having an opening in which the bolt bar 13 is guided for movement horizontally of the door. Behind the flan e'19, a spring 20 is located around the bolt ar, y.being interposed between said ange and a collar 21. This spring 20 urges the bolt ybar to the left (Fig. 4), and normally holds it with its rea-r extrem-ity 22 projected out of the door stile at the hinged edge of the door, and in contact'with a plate 23 mortised in the edge of the frame at the hinged edge of the door. The stile at the hinged edge 'of the door is provided with an opening or vgroove of suitable shape to receive the bolt the right (Fig. 4) relative to the door, and

pushes on the carrier 14 and bolt head 15,

so that as the door reaches the fully closed i position, the bolt head 15 slides over the strike 18l and takes into the opening et 'the .strike so as to lock the door.

Referring now to certain details ofthe l 30, si.

construction, it will be observed that the carrier 14 is in the' form of a late having ears 24,y guided on suitable guide stems25 which are disposed on opposite sides of the bolt head 15, and' which rigidly connect the face plate 17 with small brackets 26 fixed to the supporting plate or case 16. 1n this manner, the carrier 14 is guided for hori- Zontal movement in line with the bolt 'bar 13. Suitable springs 27 embracing the guide stems or rods 25, between the face plate and the lugs 24, normally hold the carrier in the retracted position shown in Fig. 6, in which the lugs 24 are in engagement with the front faces of the brackets. By shifting the carrier to the left with reference to Fig. 6, by means of the bolt bar, these springs 27 are put under compression, as shown in Fig. 5. At the rear end of the carrier 14, the same is provided with an angular guide portion 28, by means of which it is connected' with the forward end portion of the bolt bar 13. rlhe bolt bar 13 and guiding portion 28, in the form shown, telescope each other, with the forward extremity of the bolt bar enteringthe guide 28 in a position to be engaged and disengaged by a detent member of suitable form, which preferably comprises a sliding pin 29 mounted in the guide .portion 28 and disposed transversely thereof. The inner end of the detent pin 29 is adapted to cooperate with recesses 30, 31, in the forward end of the bolt bar, as hereinafter explained. The pin 29 is adapted to be actuated by a controlling rod 32, acted upon by a spring 33, which normally forces the detent pin in a downwardl direction so as 'to engage one 'or the other of the recesses erating rod 32 may be actuated by means of an upright rod 34, guided on the upper stile member of the door. rlhis rod 34, together with the other parts of the lock, is concealed by the upholstery, but the upper extremity of said rod carries an exposed button 36, so that by raising said button the rod 32 may be raised to disengage the detent pin from the bolt bar. The operating rod 3 2 may also be actuated from the outside of the door by suitable means. Although this is not usually necessary in the case of a touring car, 1 have shown an outside operating means in button 37 which, however, adapted for limousine bodies. The push button 37 comprises a plunger 37a (Fig. 7) adapted to actuate a lifting lever 38 dis posed underneath a portion of the rod 32. rllhe lifting lever 38 is pivoted at 39, vand has an arm 40 engaged in a suitable recess 41 in the shank 42 of the push button, the head is especially of said push button being normally pro tracted by means of a spring 43.

rlhe latch bolt 15 is of the easy spring type, being yieldingly mounted on the caramate@ From the inside of the car, the opthe form of a push rier 14, such that it ma be readily forced back into the lock case y contact with 'the strike plateV 18 on the closing of the door. To this end, the latch bolt is provided with a stem or spindle 44 guided in an opening 45 of the carrier, and' an easy spring 46 embraces the spindle 44 between a flbange 47 on the carrier and the rear face of the latch bolt. Uutward. movement of the latch boli relative to the carrier is limited by a suit* able stop 48 disposed at the rear of the part 47.

The operation of the latch is substantially as follows: Let us suppose that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4, in which the extremity 22 of the bolt bar is projected out beyond the hinged edge of the door and into contact with the plate 23, by means of the spring 20, which may be termed the door-opening spring. lin this position, the detent pin 29 is engaged' with the notch 30 in the forward end of the bolt bar, so that when the door is closed the bolt bar and carrier move to the right with reference to Fig. 4. rlhe carrier in turn carries along the `latch bolt, which is thereby projected bedesired to open the door, this may be effected by manipulating the operating rod either through the push button 37 or the lifting button 36. As the operating rod is raised, it lifts the detent out ofthe recess 30 of the bolt bar and thereby liberates the carrier from the bolt bar, so that it is immediately shot back by the springs 27 into the retracted position shown? in Fig. 6, thereby carrying the latch bolt-..15 out of the strike opening and releasing the door, that is then o ened automatically by the spring 20, w ich, when thus released, pushes the bolt bar against the plate 23 and' thereby swings the door open. The rearward movement of the carrier 24 is arrested by the lugs 26, and when in its rearmost position the detent 29 engages the recess 31 of the bolt bar. As the door swings open, however, the bolt bar moves to the right (Fig. 6) with reference to the carrier, and the detent is thrown up into its socket by an inclined surface 30a on the bolt bar, and then drops down again into the notch or recess 30. rlhis locks the lll@ lll@

tenaces t will be understood, therefore, that by my invention I provide a bolt member extending laterally through the door and nordoor-locking section having means associated with it for retracting it, when the normal connection between the two sections consisting of the detent 29 or its equivalent, is released. ln the form shown, the locking section of the bolt puts a spring under compression as it is shifted bythe other section on the closing of the door, and this spring is utilized to retract the bolt head when the two bolt sections are momentarily released from each other. As the door is opened by the section at the rear or hinged edge of the door, the two bolt sections are automatically reconnected in their` initial relation by the detent or equivalent member provided for that purpose.

lf desired, the operating rod 32 or its equivalent may be manipulated by means other than those shown. Various modifications in this and other respects may be adopted without departing from the scope of the invention as dened in the claims.

What l claim, is:-- l

l, The combination with a door frame and a door hinged thereto, of a spring device normally holding the door open, a bolt head for locking the door to the frame adapted to be projected by said spring device, detent mechanism for connecting said bolt head with said spring device, means for releasing said detent mechanism, and means for retracting the bolt head when said detent mechanism is released; substantially as described.

2. In a door latch, the combination of a bolt bar coperatin with the door at the hinged edge threo a bolt carrier, a bolt mounted on sai carrier for locking the free edge of the door to the frame, means of connection between said bolt bar and said bolt carrier, whereby the bolt is projected, means for releasing such connection, and means for automatically retracting the bolt carrier when such connection is released; substantially as described.

3. The combination with a door frame and a door hinged thereto, of means normally tending to hold the door open, means for locking the door to the frame, said lirst protracted from the hinged edge of means adapted to actuate said second means and means for interconnecting and disconnecting said two means; substantially as described.

4. The combination with a door and door frame, of a spring pressed bolt section for normally' tending to hold the door open, a second spring pressed bolt ysection in line with the irst'for locking the door to the frame, detent mechanism intermediate said sections, and means for operating said detent mechanism; substantially as described.

5. lIn' a door latch, the combination oit a spring pressed door-opening member, a spring pressed bolt carrier, means on the "door frame to coperate with the respective parts, and means for interconnecting and disconnecting said opening member and said bolt carrier; substantially as described.

6. In a door latch, the combination of a spring pressed bolt member adapted to project beyond the hinged edge of the door, a spring pressed bolt carrier, a bolt head on the carrier for locking the free edge of the door to the frame, and means lfor intercon nectingand disconnecting the bolt member and carrier; substantially as described.

7. ln a door latch, the combination of a bolt bar coperating with the door at the hinged edge thereof, a spring acting on said bolt bar Vto normally hold the door open, a bolt carrier, a bolt mounted on the carrier for locking. the door to the frame, means connecting said bolt bar with said bolt carrier -such that the bolt isprotracted as the door is closed, and means for retracting the bolt to open the door; substantially as described.

8. lln a door latch, the combination of a dooreopening member, a bolt head, means for connecting said bolt head with said dooropening member such that the bolt head is projected by the latter as the door is closed, and a spring for retracting the bolt head to open the door; substantially as described.

9. In a door latch, the combination of a door-opening bar coperating with the door at the hinged edge thereof, a sliding bolt carrier in line with said bar, a bolt head having -an easy spring connection with said carrier, a spring normally holding the carrier in a definite position, means for connecting said bar with the carrier such that the bolt head is protracted in opposition to the carrier spring when the door is closed, and means for disconnecting the carrier lfrom the bar so that the carrier is free to retract the bolt head by the action of the carrier spring; substantially as described.

'10. ln a door latch, the combination of a bolt, a carrier, means normally holding said carrier retracted from the free edge ot the door, and a sliding member in line with the carrier adapted to project from the hinged edge of the door for shifting said carrier MEO lll@

lila I l and protraoting' said bolt automatically as the door is cosed; substantially as described.

11. ln a door latch, the combination with a door and door frame, of a normally protracted bolt-section on the door adjacent the hinged edge of the latter, a normally retracted bolt section on the door at the free edge thereof, means of connection between said sections whereby the rst pushes the second into coperation with the strike at the free edge of the door, and means for releasing the second section from the first to permit the retraction or" said second section; substantially as described.

12. In a door latch, a bolt, means normally holding said bolt retracted from the tree edge of the door, a sliding member for pushing the bolt into protracted position as the door is closed, and means for connecting said bolt with and disconnecting it from said sliding member; substantially as described.

13. ln a' door latch, a bolt, a bolt carrier, means acting on said carrier to hold the bolt retracted from the free edge of the door, means for shifting the carrier in opposition to said last means so as to protract the bolt into the strike plate or keeper, and means Jfor connecting said carrier with and disconnecting it from said carrier-shifting means; substantially as described.

1+i. ln a door latch, a bolt, asliding carrier therefor, means for operating the carrier so as to protract the bo-lt into the strike, means for connecting said carrier with and disconnecting it from said operating means, and means for automatically shiitinc" said carrier to door-releasing position; srbstantially as described.

15. In a door latch, a bolt, a bolt carrier, means for shifting said carrier automatically on the closing of the door so as to protract the bolt into the strike or keeper, means for placing said carrier out of cooperative relation with said carrier-shifting means while the door is closed, and means for automatically shifting the carrier to release the bolt from the strike or keeper when the carrier and the carrier-shifting means are placed out of cooperative relation; substantially as described.

16. ln a door latch, a bolt, means for pushing the bolt into the strike or keeper automatically on the closing of the door,

moana lor disconnecting the bolt troni said lastcmeans While the door is closed, and means for retracting the bolt from the strike or keeper automatically on' such disconnection; substantially as described.

1'?. lin a door latch, the combination of a carrier, aspring pressed bolt carried there by, means for operating the carrier to protract the bolt, means for connecting said carrier with and disconnecting it from said operating means, and means for automatically retractin the bolt, by shifting the bolt carrier, when t e latter is disconnected from its operating means; substantially as described.

18. lin a door latch, a bolt, a spring normally holding said bolt retracted from the free edge of the door when the door is open, a member for pushing the bolt into protracted position as the door is closed, in opposition to said spring, and means for connecting said bolt with and disconnecting it from said pushing member, said bolt being automatically retracted by said spring when it is disconnected from said pushing member; substantially as described.

19. lin a door latch, the combination oi a bolt, a constantly acting spring normally holdino said bolt retracted from the free edge oi' the door, positively acting bolt-operu ating means operated automatically on the closing of the door to move the bolt into the strike or keeper in opposition to the iull reti-active force of said spring, and means for disconnectincn said bolt 'from its operat1 ing means to allow retraction oi the bolt; substantially as described.

20. ln a door latch, the combination of a bolt carrier, a spring pressed bolt carried thereby, a spring actingon the carrier to normally hold said bolt retracted from the free edge of the door, means for shifting said carrier, in opposition to said spring, so as to protract the bolt to lock the door, means for operating said last-named means automatically on the closing or the door, and means Jfor disconnecting said carrier from said carrier-shifting means while the door is closed to permit the retraction of the bolt by the spring acting on the carrier; substantially as described.

ln witness whereof, ll have hereunto set my hand on the 3d day of August, 1915.

Jona J. Matrona. 

